Toy coupling



C. NEHRKE TOY COUPLING Dec. 11, 1951 Filed Nov. 23', 1946 \N NN AWN ON Q m\ Ill IHI INVENTOR. CHARLES N EHRKE. f

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE TOY COUPLING Charles Nehrke, New York, N. Y.

Application November 23, 1946, Serial No. 711,970

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a coupling for toys particularly adaptable for toy trains.

Broadly, it is an object of my invention to provide a simple, inexpensive coupling for toy trains which automatically couples trains and is positive in its operation and easy to release.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a toy coupling which permits a toy train to travel around a curve.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of my invention, reference is had to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom view of a split plastic shell of a toy train, part of one half of the shell being broken away.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a toy locomotive and train showing one coupling in closed or locked position and one coupling in open or released position.

Figure 3 is an elevation of a modified stake and a side elevation of a striking arm for automatically uncoupling the cars of the train.

Referring to the drawings, numerals l0 and II represent a plastic shell of a toy locomotive and passenger car respectively comprising two identical halves split longitudinally. A coupling preferably made of metal is positioned between the halves and comprises a stake I2 having a shoulder l3 to receive the upper end of a coil spring I4, a narrow portion I5 which passes through a narrow opening l6 at the bottom of the train acting as an upward and downward stop. A wider base portion I! has an upper shoulder [8 which acts as a stop against the bottom of the train. Spring 14 is seated between shoulder I 3 and the bottom of the train creating upward pressure upon the stake I2. The stake I2 projects through the upper part of the train to providea finger piece for pressing the stake I2 downward.

A release bar [9 having a hook at one end and an eyelet hinge 2| at the opposite end connected to the base portion I! as shown in Figure 2 is pivoted by pin 22 which passes through a hole in bar I9. Pin 22 lays in aligned holes provided in each half shell. An elongated eye 23 is horizontally positioned by a dovetail projection 24 which is placed in a depression in both halves of the shell at the rear of the train to receive the hook 2D for coupling the various cars of the trains. Eye 23 has an enlongated opening 25 which permits the hook 20 to move within the opening 25 so that the cars can travel around curved rails (not shown). The rear part 26 of the eye 23 acts as a stop against the front of the following train.

In operation when the rear train moves against the forward train, the rounded end 21 of the hook 20 rides over the rear part 26 of the eye 23 against spring pressure and locks 2 within the opening 25 being held there by the upward pressure of spring I4. To uncouple the cars the protruding end of stake I2 is pressed downward against the pressure of spring l4 causing the hook 20 to pivot upward about pin 22, thus freeing the hook from eye 23.

Referring to Fig. 3, numeral 28 represents a modified stake having a top member 32 substantially cone shaped attached to the top. A striking arm 29 having a base 30 at one end and a ball 3| at the opposite end may be placed adjacent the tracks (not shown) so that when the train comes along the tracks the member 32 will strike the ball 3|. Since stake 28 is movable downwardly and ball 3| is stationary, the stake 28 will be depressed similar to stake l2 and the car will become uncoupled.

Although I have shown my coupling applied to toy trains, it can be used upon a large variety of other items and devices.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A car coupling comprising coupling means carried by adjacent car ends for cooperative engagement in coupling and uncoupling the cars, one of said coupling means comprising an elongated fiat eye, said eye horizontally attached to the center of one end of a car, a stake vertically positioned in an adjacent car end along the iongitudinal axis of the car with its upper end projecting above said car and its lower end projecting below said car, said stake having upper and lower shoulders, a spring seated upon said stake with its upper end seated against said upper shoulder and its bottom end seated upon the bottom of the car, creating a forward pressure upon said stake, said lower shoulder of said stake limiting the forward movement of said stake by stopping against the bottom of the car, a pivoted horizontal hook hinged to the lower portion of said stake, said eye receiving said hook for coupling said cars.

CHARLES NEHRKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 239,916 Autey et al. Apr. 12, 1881 346,551 Jones Aug. 3, 1886 407,446 Pemberton July 23, 1889 2,036,454 Bergstrand Apr. 7, 1936 2,106,698 Bonanno Feb. 1, 1938 2,261,258 Kinnear Nov. 4, 1941 

